02-10-2009, 06:52 AM

Please note: Don't go mucking about with partitioning your drive using a new tool, whether it be Bootcamp, iPartition, Partition Magic, etc. without first taking a read through the directions for it's use. (Unless that is, you're not really concerned about the data on your drive and the possibility that you may need to reinstall your primary OS when you're done mucking.) You're only asking for trouble.

And backup your primary partition before you begin. There is always the chance that something will happen; loss of power, etc.

From the very first screen of Bootcamp Assistant is the option to print the instructions. Do It!!! If you don't want to print it, save it as a pdf and read through it. A quick 5-10 minute glance through can answer most of your questions. The rest of us would just have to quote the manual to get it as simple and easy as Apple has already done.

If you have questions before you start (and after reading the tutorial), there are plenty of folks that will gladly help you out.

Asking after you've gone mucking about, you'll more than likely still get some help. (At least if you provide good info.) But, the options that remain, may not be to your liking.

(In case you didn't know, BootCamp Assistant can be found in your Applications / Utilities folder.)

02-10-2009, 08:35 AM

good advice.

i've got a friend, actually my ex-wife, that will likley be using bootcamp in the near future. i'll make sure she sees this along with all the other good bootcamp info written around here.

02-11-2009, 09:13 AM

Thanks for the tip, going to install Bootcamp very soon, lucky I saw this post

02-11-2009, 09:29 AM

Sticky-worthy, IMO....

02-15-2009, 04:09 PM

Thanks for the heads-up, I am going to use Bootcamp to install XP pro when I get my MBP. I'll probably come back for clarification when I actually get my laptop XD

02-15-2009, 04:48 PM

I think that Boot-Camp is great, but like posted above.. READ the instructions before you go screwing with things such as partitioning and installing on different partitions. Will save you lots of time in the long run.

02-15-2009, 05:22 PM

I would also add that BEFORE you even think about installing Windows, be it though Boot Camp, Parallels or whatever... that you take the time to evaluate why you need Windows on your Mac in the first place.

Don't make installing Windows a top priority... especially when you don't even have a Mac yet. Take the time to learn OS X first.
I would wait at least a month before even considering a Windows install.

More often than not, you will be able to find software or other methods to achieve the result you were planning on using Windows to attain. This would negate the need for a Windows install period.

If you only need Windows for "one thing", and you already have a working Windows machine, then there is no need to install Windows on your Mac.
That "one thing" could potentially eat up a huge amount of space and resources on your Mac.

04-08-2009, 03:33 PM

Hello,

I might have to install Boot Camp soon n am slightly concerned. I have read the above which has been interesting but if anyone can offer additonal advice I would appreciate it.

I am not overwhelmingly computer literate - the words 'download' n 'install' can unsettle me, alongwith 'primary partition' etc. I have Mac OS X 10.4.11 I only need to have Boot Camp to read one programme - there is no Mac version at the moment but will be later in the year. Once installed is Boot Camp easy to uninstall? Do you just switch it off and on? And is it easy/straightforward to install anyway?

I've been warned off using any kind of Windows system on my Mac, as have been told it could mess up my system, but have no choice. Would I be foolish to attempt to install/run Boot Camp?

Any info appreciated - thanks ;o)


Charlie

04-08-2009, 03:49 PM

CharlieC, all Boot Camp does is add a partition to your drive where you can install Windows. You need to reboot your computer to select this partition and boot it. Therefore the process of installing Windows is exactly the same as on any other generic PC. You only need to be sure to select the BootCamp partition during the installation process. There is no switching it on and off. Once installed, it can be easily removed by running the Boot Camp Assistant again, and choosing to restore your disk to a single volume.

It is not foolish to use Boot Camp, as long as you read the instructions and are certain to choose the correct partition during the Windows installation. The only way you can mess up your system is if you accidentally choose either the whole disk or the OS X partition while installing.

04-08-2009, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by CharlieC

Hello,

I might have to install Boot Camp soon n am slightly concerned. I have read the above which has been interesting but if anyone can offer additonal advice I would appreciate it.

I am not overwhelmingly computer literate - the words 'download' n 'install' can unsettle me, alongwith 'primary partition' etc. I have Mac OS X 10.4.11 I only need to have Boot Camp to read one programme - there is no Mac version at the moment but will be later in the year. Once installed is Boot Camp easy to uninstall? Do you just switch it off and on? And is it easy/straightforward to install anyway?

I've been warned off using any kind of Windows system on my Mac, as have been told it could mess up my system, but have no choice. Would I be foolish to attempt to install/run Boot Camp?

Any info appreciated - thanks ;o)


Charlie

Boot Camp is no longer available to OS X 10.4 users. That is now a Leopard-only feature. If you need to run just one Windows program (assuming it's not a game or 3D intensive), you should look into Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion.

05-14-2009, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by cwa107

Boot Camp is no longer available to OS X 10.4 users. That is now a Leopard-only feature. If you need to run just one Windows program (assuming it's not a game or 3D intensive), you should look into Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion.

this is true, but Parallels and VMWare Fusion really can't deal with very high demanding programs like FlightSim...or WoW. yes i know.

The running of two OS's at a time is too much for some MBs such as mine...

05-14-2009, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by greggor23

this is true, but Parallels and VMWare Fusion really can't deal with very high demanding programs like FlightSim...or WoW. yes i know.

The running of two OS's at a time is too much for some MBs such as mine...

I think you missed this part of my post:

Boot Camp is no longer available to OS X 10.4 users. That is now a Leopard-only feature. If you need to run just one Windows program (assuming it's not a game or 3D intensive), you should look into Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion.

Just about any other type of application will run at speeds native to your hardware since there is no emulation overhead, provided that you have adequate memory for both the host OS and the guest (in the case of Windows XP, 2GB should be more than sufficient).

05-14-2009, 01:26 PM

I can add that my older blackbook with 2 GB runs XP, Windows 7 and Ubuntu as virtual machines, all just fine. No performance issues as far as I can tell.

Cheers

05-14-2009, 01:36 PM

Yes indeed I did miss that part.

05-16-2009, 09:41 PM

Help! I started to install Bootcamp and then followed with my DVD of Windows XP Pro but then it reminded me that my XP Pro was an upgrade and I needed to put in an original WIndows disk Windows 2000, Millenium, 98 or 95. Problem is I can't eject the original Windows disk and there is no eject button on Macs as there is on PCs. Shutting down doesn't help - it just starts up again trying to install WIndows XP. I've tried holding down various keys to force it to start on OSX without any luck. It's a MacMini 1.83Ghz with a new 320Gb drive and 2Gb RAM. It's still open with the cover off after I changed the HDD and added more RAM but looking at the DVD I can see no physical way of ejecting the disk. ANy bright ideas? WHat I should have done was start with WIndows Millenium and then added the XP Upgrade but at the moment I am stuck. If I could get it to boot up in OSX then I could see the foreign disk and eject it.

Dave